Thought I would chime in for some sizing advice, any help appreciated.

I’m running now in Merrell Mix Master 2’s, size 10, and they are a good fit, although my big toe touches the tip of the shoe from the inside occasionally, I haven’t found this a problem.
I’m concerned, however, that this would be a problem in a racing flat. Shoefitr recommended a size 10.5 for the Ekidens, and it says it has the same lenght as the size 10 in the MM2.

Should I go up another half size to 11? Or 10.5 should be OK?

Thanks again!

In that case I would say that it’s surprising that the one shoe is causing you problems since the others are similar in being lower drop. Not sure what the problem might be.

Thanks Pete!

I’d been using Newtons Gravity and Mizuno Universe 9 for training and recently Kinvara 3 for racing.

What were you running in prior to the Ekidens? Moving to a racing flat can require more work out of the calves, so soreness is not uncommon. A gradual buildup is typically appropriate.

I wear the Universe in size10 and actually feel like a 10.5 might be warranted in the Ekiden.
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I also agree about that crinkly material – I have no idea what purpose that stuff serves other than to make a strange noise!

Agreed: Flats–and trainers, really–should disappear on your feet. It’s kinda the main thing to look for in my book. Weight, offset, fit, etc., are all variables that can combine in so many different ways to make a great shoe.

I love the Ekiden. When this shoe is on, it’s pretty durn near impossible to run slow.

I think I’m coming to the decision that I like the old fashioned soft mesh and stitched pleather (fuede?) uppers best. They just tend to fit the foot cleaner and they don’t ripple and buckle like the new fangled welded overlays on crunchy meshes. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Kinvara, but the uppers like on the Adios 2 or the Ekiden to me appear to be of, I don’t know, better craftmanship maybe, if that’s at all possible. And after you’ve worn it several times, it feels almost customized; or at least it takes the shape of the foot better.

I’d like to see a trainer version of the Ekiden too. Maybe add another four mm of foam under fore- and rear- and you’d have a bitchin’ daily trainer. Maybe we can get Mizuno to lower the offset of the Sayonara in the next iteration.

I guess that’s because the upper of the Universe is more stretchy?

And I found them to be half a size small when I first got them. I was lucky and had purchased two pairs, one half a size larger and got to compare them size by side with a pair of Mizuno Ronin 2s. The larger Ekiden was spot on in length with the half a size smaller Ronin. I actually kept the smaller Ekiden though, on the hunch that the minimal upper would stretch out. After about 16 miles it’s stretched out some and I would say it feels an odd “quarter size” small to me. But I’m happy with them and just came back from a 5k race where I think the tightness was a good thing for me and I’m going to keep them as my purpose 5k racer.

I agree on the upper material, I like the cloth-like feel. Feel he underside of the forefoot material and you’ll find the crinkly stuff, no idea what it’s for,
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